It may seem as though all the momentum is behind those pushing to enact medical debt collection and credit reporting bills in state legislatures across the country, but there was a report where one lawmaker stood up and spoke about how much a plan to prohibit hospitals from filing collection lawsuits against patients who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level would cost other taxpayers.
Andrew Goodell, a Republican and member of the New York Assembly, who happens to be retiring, argued last week that the bill is akin to a hidden tax on state residents. In a speech on the Assembly floor, Goodell didn’t pull any punches.
“The cost of this program, which is currently about $1 billion, will just explode,” Goodell said, according to a published report. “This is like a program for universal free health care at hospitals for those who are earning 27% or more of the median income in your community. In my community, by the way, you could earn double, double, the individual per capita (income) and get free hospitalization. My friends, this is an astronomically expensive proposal that should not be part of this budget, because you will be paying for it long after I leave.”
Goodell, who is the Assembly’s minority leader, announced earlier this year that he will not run for reelection later this year. He has been a member of the Assembly since 2010.
The bill in question, which is being backed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, would prohibit hospitals’ from being able to sue patients for unpaid debts if the patient earns less than 400% of the federal poverty level, while also expanding financial assistance programs, limiting the size of monthly payments that can be required, and reducing the interest on medical debt.
